weddingperth

Real Weddings | Matt & Sam’s Private Property, Country Italian Affair 

Golden paddocks, olive trees and a charming old school country hall was the setting for Matt & Sam’s country Italian affair. A country style farm wedding, minus the hay bales, the couple’s brief for their big day was ‘make it formal, but make it fun’. With no phone reception, and the option to sleep under the stars, their guests were welcomed onto the family property with lots of love, laughter and limoncello. 

We interviewed the couple to get the inside scoop on how they went about planning their private property wedding.  If you also have decided to wear your own wedding planner hat, then keep scrolling for all of the inspo!

THE VISION

A modern Italian garden affair with a splash of country wedding fun.

We spent some time in Italy together early on in their relationship, which is something that we both value as part of our story. That, along with Matt’s Italian heritage and the family farm in the ‘Italian’ part of town where Matt grew up and where we now live, our ‘modern Italian affair’ vision came to life.

Sam has a creative brain and a DIY attitude (Matt), so pitching the idea of a DIY farm wedding to her was a sure thing. 

We developed a palette which drew on inspo from Italy, as well as the natural environment of the farm. Think golden paddocks, olive trees, and a mixture of terracotta, natural stones and raw edges. Tied in with warm whites, soft natural linens and touches of yellow and blue throughout.

 

THE VENUE

Our ceremony took place in a paddock on the farm, overlooking the gorgeous country scape. We kept our ceremony styling minimal, and made the natural elements the focus. When you see the view you will understand why!

The reception took place at the Changerup Hall, an old country hall with a lot of character, only a few kilometers from the farm. The hall holds a special significance to Matt’s family, so it was only fitting that we add to the milestone events that have taken place there over the years, and turn the hall into a dreamy haze of natural linens, golden hues and fluffy baby breath clouds to compliment its rustic bones.

STYLE

(Sam) I’m a graphic designer by trade, and I didn’t hold back when putting together our mood board and brief (it was probably a little OTT looking back at it now) BUT, I think this definitely helped when it came to our styling – hint hint, to all of you our there planning your own wedding, take the time to put together a detailed mood board and styling brief!

Our country Italian theme was present in all aspects of the day, from the menu, to the décor and even the music. We planned for our DJ to play ‘That’s Amore’ by Dean Martin (one of our faves) after the first dance to get all of our guests up on the dance floor, and boy was it a hit!

 With the setting and venue drawing on the rustic, natural influence of Italy, we brought in a hint of modern through our furniture selections. Our cocktail space was styled with Hire In Style’s natural ribbed bar, rattan bar chairs & bar tables and wicker lounge package, and the reception showcased their gorgeous natural rattan dining chairs, ribbed glassware and gold accents on the table-scape.

Our legend of a florist Prue, from @thegoodbatchco incorporated lemons and lemon branches into our bar arrangements and the stationery drew on the classic European flair style of handmade paper, travertine table numbers, linen signage and a big, obnoxious linen seating chart which hung from the roof of the hall.

We worked with Supper Road to create a banquet style menu that showcased Italian inspired ingredients and dishes, our bar menu featured our favourite Italian beers, wines and of course a limoncello spritz as our signature cocktail. We wanted to bring a wholesome family touch to our day, so we asked our families to help us create a family dessert table, which featured the Italian family recipes we love.

DIY

THE LOT (well nearly)

 We did nearly everything ourselves, with the help of our friends and fam. It was so humble to see how many people wanted to contribute their time and energy for us – SO spesh!

Everyone really rallied around us. From keeping 50 petunia plants and rose bushes alive over the summer months, to sewing linen curtains, and spending 2 separate weekends cleaning AND painting the hall. Not to mention collecting ornate vases, stocking the cool rooms, cooking, and of course the week long set up and pack down the next day. It was mammoth act of love, that’s for sure.

Matt is pretty handy with woodwork, so he made our cake stand and dessert table grazers from wood on the farm, plus our signage stands and a few extra bits and bobs for the day, and I’m a wedding stationery designer so all of the stationery was on my to-do list. We even made our own wedding cake, it was no picture perfect job but it tasted good.

INVOLVEMENT

 We were 100% involved in the whole process, from planning, to set up and styling. (Matt) Sam is a self-proclaimed control freak when it comes to organisation, so she was always going to be in the driver’s seat when it came to planning our wedding!

Being a private property wedding, we had to do pretty much everything ourselves, from prepping the venue, organising power and water connection and coordinating the logistics of transport for our guests. We put together the run sheets, timelines and floor plans ourselves.  

What we didn’t hire, we brought ourselves, like the terracotta pots, vases, posy vases and décor items, and what we didn’t buy, we made. We were lucky enough to have Hannah from Hire In Style as our On-The-Day Coordinator so we didn’t have to worry about much the day of, she also set up the reception space for us turning the old hall into a soft n chic, candle lit dream!

BEST INCLUSIONS / FAVE DEETS

We were set on having our bridal photos down by the olive trees, which were of course at the opposite side of the farm to the reception. So we decided to ride in style on the back of the truck for our bridal photos, chauffeured by Matt’s dad. Everyone said to us that our bridal photos will be one of the highlights of the night, and boy they were not wrong!

We decided to put disposable cameras on the tables – a risky decision, but they turned out a treat! We wanted some BTS content of our guests, you know the silly stuff the camera doesn’t always capture. We developed these a few days after the wedding and were so over the moon with how they turned out.

Oh and our dog surprised us at our reception! We were just about to sit down to eat when he showed up at the hall. Obviously he didn’t want to miss out on the party!

Though the best inclusion was that all of our vendors had a connection to us, which made the whole experience so much more enjoyable! Our photographer was one of our bridesmaids sisters, our acoustic duo, DJ and florists are friends of ours, our celebrant is an ex-local and friend of the families. We were so lucky to have such a talented and diverse group of humans we call friends. 

WORD(S) OF ADVICE

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and remember to show gratitude to everyone who helps you along the way.  Wedding planning is a big job, but when it all comes together and all of the little details fall into place and you see all of your hard work in action, it’s SO worth it!

Pace yourself – on the night that is. We planned to stay sober enough to remember our day, and we are so glad we did! The day went by so quickly, and we didn’t need alcohol to have fun. We were on such a high we danced ALLLLLL night. 

Make sure you take 10 minutes for yourself as a couple on the day. You hear everyone say it, and we can 100% vouch for it. Step away from the crazy and just chat, take it all in and remember that everyone is there to celebrate you. It’s a truly surreal feeling and something that you need to take in.

 

 

DREAM TEAM VENDORS // Photography @_thelovediaries | Videography @noordinaryloveweddings | Celebrant @jennyfisherweddings | Florist @goodbatchco | Catering @supper_road | Furniture Hire @hire_in_style_wa | On the Day set up & Coordination @hire_in_style_wa | Acoustics @jakeandlaurenmusic  | DJ @kaagramusic | Stationery @saje.creativeco | Hair @amandabarretthair | MUA @torioverstonemua | Sam’s Dress @alexperryofficial @bluebellbridal | Second Dress @natalierolt | Shoes @loefflerrandall | Matt’s Suit @danielhetcherau @brittonsperth  | Matt’s Shoes @rmwilliams

The difference between a wedding planner, stylist & coordinator

Wait, I need a planner, coordinator AND stylist?

Confused?

Don’t worry, we were once too!

Though they may seem like very similar job titles, and it is true that a lot of planners, stylists and coordinators actually do more than one of these roles, some even all three!

They are actually, in fact, three different job titles, and it might not be until you begin to plan your wedding that it hits you, ‘Heck, I really do need a stylist AND a coordinator’.

These wedding wizards know the ins and outs of the wedding world, they have the contacts, the ideas, and the experience, so trust us when we say, they are worth every penny.

So, without further ado, and so we can restore the calm back in your wedding planning, here is our little cheat sheet outlining the difference between wedding planners, stylists & coordinators.

Photo: @stefanieburmaweddings | Stylist @hitchedweddings

WEDDING PLANNER

The Logistics

Think of J.Lo in the ‘Wedding Planner’

 A wedding planner is all about the logistics – they are there from the very beginning to help to navigate the details of your wedding from start to finish and every­thing in between.

On average, it takes about 400 hours to plan a wedding* It’s a full time job, so a good wedding planner is worth every penny. They take on the stress for you; deal with deadlines, plan your plan B’s and tackle emergencies, they even check for typos in your stationery! Literally everything that is involved with planning a wedding they do for you.

A wedding planner’s role:

  • – Refer and assist in choosing vendors, as well as schedule & attend vendor meetings
  • – Overseeing & managing your budget, track deposits and payments for vendors
  • – Attend site tours
  • – Communicate with vendors during the planning stages & in the lead up to the wedding
  • – Create timelines & floor plans
  • – Be there to support you with any questions or queries they may have
  • – Work with the stylist and coordinator

 

Photographer: @tylerbrownphotography | Stylist: @confettiandcoevents

 

WEDDING STYLIST

The Aesthetics

A wedding stylist designs and conceptualises the creative aspect of your wedding, ensuring you have a cohesive theme throughout the event, from altar to dance floor. It is all about the aesthetics for a wedding stylist; from lighting design, furniture selection, flowers, linens, tableware, and stationery. They will literally bring your vision to life!

A wedding stylists role:

  • – Developing a mood board and style concept for your overall wedding
  • – Develop a colour palette
  • – Attend a site visit to visualise where you want everything to go and plan the layout
  • – Develop detailed floor plans of the ceremony, pre-reception & reception space
  • – Source styling pieces
  • – Coordinate all decor elements during bump in and ensure all styling pieces are in place prior to the wedding commencing
  • – Assist in the pack down of styling pieces during bump out
  • – Work with the planner and coordinator

 

Photo @teneilkablephoto | Planner & Stylist @white_events

 

WEDDING COORDINATOR

The Point Person

Think Monica Geller at Phoebe’s wedding in Friends, but the non-scary version. Not to be confused with wedding planners, a coordinator’s role is to look after the wedding day itself, ensuring the whole day runs as smoothly and stress free as possible.

 A wedding coordinator normally comes into the picture 2-3 months prior to your wedding, to assist in the preparation of the day, to confirm the vendor scope of services on the day. They create an on-the-day timeline to provide a seamless execution of the on-the-day set up, and ensure a smooth running of the entire event right up until pack down.

A wedding coordinators role:

  • – Meet you 2-3 months prior to the wedding to get an understanding of where everything is to date
  • – Check in with your vendors and review signed contracts
  • – Ensure all loose ends are tied prior to the day
  • – Complete a final venue walk through
  • – Manage and coordinate the rehearsal
  • – Be the point person during bump in and the morning of, to free you up on the day

 

Photo: @sarahtonkinphotography | Set Up & On the Day Coordination @hire_in_style_wa

 

So, what’s the best fit for you?

If you already have a super busy workload, or maybe you don’t cope well with increased stress levels and decision making, then you might benefit from a wedding planner. Maybe you have no creative bone in your body so a stylist would come in handy! Lastly, we think everyone needs an on the day coordinator in their lives. Do you really want to be answering phone calls from your florist the morning of your wedding while you are getting your hair & make up done? We didn’t think so.

Fun fact, did you know we also offer styling AND on the day coordination as an add on to your hire order? Get in touch with us if you would like to know more.

Happy planning!

 

* Source: Instagram post @maeandcomonthly

Round or long tables: What is the best choice for your wedding reception?

Wondering what table layout will work best for your wedding?

We wish we could say making the decision between round or long tables is an easy one. The truth is, choosing the best table layout for your wedding isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Your venue space & capacity, guest list, guest requirements, menu style and your overall wedding style all come into play.

We have made a good ol’ fashioned list of pros & cons for each table type, so you can way up the options and decide what is the best fit for your wedding reception. 

Image: @emmamacaulayphotography

Before we dive into the pros and cons debate, the first point of call is to check in with your venue. Confirm the capacity limit and do a walk-through of the reception space so you have a clear vision of what the space looks like, where the entry and exits are, the bathrooms and the power points. Trust us when we say, all these things will impact the floor layout.

Sometimes, venues often have their own furniture for you to use, which helps to make your choice of tables a whole lot simpler. If your venue space is a blank canvas, it’s still wise to check with the venue as to what their recommended floor plan for your number of guests may be, especially if they are coordinating or catering your wedding themselves.

Image: @thedayweddings

 

Round: Pros

– Round tables can’t be joined together, therefore there is less table top to be styled meaning less budget you will need to allocate to decorative items. So a pro for your budget!

– Round tables better accommodate conversation – guests can more easily chat to all parties on the table, rather than being restricted to the guests next to them or directly opposite.

 

Round: Cons

– Round tables tend to have the ‘been there, done that’ connotation. They are perceived as more traditional, which might not work with your wedding style.

Image: @parishawkenphoto

 

Long: Pros

– Long tables are communal – they can be joined together to create even longer tables, decreasing the overall number of tables on your seating chart all together. It might sound silly, but this can also decrease the chance of some of your guests getting upset with the table number they were put on.

– Long tables allow for more styling options –  think larger floral arrangements, table raisers, candle & posy vase combos.   

– Long tables more often than not sit more guests, which is a big tick if you are hiring tables, chairs & linen!

 

Long: Cons

– Not so easy to mingle. Long tables make it harder to strike up conversation with multiple guests during the seated service, other than the ones sitting next to you and directly across.

– Accessibility – getting to your seat can be difficult if you are sat in the middle of the table. If you are going for a long table layout, be sure to take this into considerations when drafting your seating plan. Seating your elderly guests in the middle of your long tables probably isn’t the best choice.

– Speaking of seating plans, it could possibly be a little more difficult putting together your seating plan with fewer tables to group your guests at. Word of advice, start this as early as possible and have a glass of wine handy!

 

Image: @holiiandash

 

 

Summer Soirees & Boozy Banquets: Four festive event planning tips you should know

The Festive Season is upon us! The season where your social calendar fills up with long luncheons, end of year celebrations, boozy banquets and of course, Christmas festivities. Is there any better time of the year?

If you are throwing an outdoor soiree, here are a few little pointers from the experts on how to make it one to top this festive season.

 

1. Comfort is key

It’s safe to say that everyone’s ideal weather situation for an outdoor event is a beautifully clear, mild day with a light breeze and a warm, balmy evening. Though let’s face it, this isn’t always the case, especially in December…

Our number one piece of advice; be prepared for every possible scenario and keep your guests comfort your number one priority. We are talking adequate shade, furniture, food & beverages, and last but certainly not least, always have a backup plan just in-case the weather gods decide to put on a show!

For example:

If you are longing for classy, long table lunch, at midday, set up on the grass so your guests can take in the picturesque views of the gardens or vineyards. Then be sure you provide:

–    SHADE! A luxury tent, marquee or canvas umbrellas.

–    Plenty of water, sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Heatstroke, sunburn or mosquitos are not a vibe.

Oh and if there is a forecast of 40 degrees (this is a high chance in December), consider changing your event start time to a later time, or moving your event inside or to an undercover shot where there are outdoor fans.

 

Image: @blackbirdtale_

 

2. Styling & Cohesion

 

It is the silly season after all, so why not go big with your styling! 

Gone are the days where red and green are the key elements to your festive celebration colour scheme. Instead, break the boundaries, gimme that atmosphere and make it WOW.

 

Here are some tips to keep you on track:

–    Cohesion – pick a theme and stick to it. Think Parisian Party, Havana Nights or Backyard Boho for something different.

–    Base all of your styling choices around the theme: including furniture, florals, lighting and stationery.

–    Group your styling items based on colour, texture & materials.

–    Add some flare and personality to create something totally unique. Think of a seasonal menu, complete with a gelato cart, or oyster bar.

 

If you are traditional, and want to keep the Festive spirit alive, opt for a classic white theme and add a pop of colour with a sage green, terracotta and beige combo. Or instead play with duck egg blue and gold for a festive ‘Winter’ wonderland vibe.

 

Image: @photogerson

 

3. Use appropriate furniture

 

Festive events are usually when we see 20-plus people around the table, so look into hiring some furniture to fit everyone in with enough elbow room as well as to create a beautiful and consistent table.

Here are our top hire items we think are essential when planning a festive event:

–    Hydration stations – AKA, Bars. If you have a larger guest list, or two separate entertaining areas, consider hiring multiple bars.

–    Beverage Accessories: glassware, water carafes, champagne bowls and ice buckets.

–    Tables & Chairs – to suit your event style. Bar chairs & tables and lounges for a cocktail vibe, or long banquet tables & chairs for seated.

–    Shade – whether it be a marquee, or luxury tent, this is a big one if you are hosting a large celebration.

–    Lighting – especially if your festivities will run into the evening.

 

4. Communication and flexibility is key

 

Understand all of your vendors’ needs – from power requirements to space needed and time frames. Look at the event holistically and then make sure those needs are fulfilled as much as possible to avoid misunderstandings or issues on the day. Know what everyone is and isn’t taking care of so you can identify any double-ups or gaps that need to be resolved.

 

A Recipe for Vow Writing Success

In today’s age, we are seeing more and more couples break away from traditional wedding customs, and instead introduce their own. Your wedding vows are no different.

Custom wedding vows are written from the heart and are personalised, authentic, and true to you as a couple – we mean, what is more real than that?!

 

Breaking away from tradition:

Gone are the days of using ‘thee’ & ‘troth’ in our everyday vocabulary, so you shouldn’t have to use these phrases when committing your love to one another. This isn’t to say that there is anything wrong with tradition, and if traditional wedding vows are meaningful to you as a couple then you should 110% use them as part of your marriage ceremony. Remember, it’s your day, you can do as you please!

So unless you want to use the tradition, it is more than okay (really it is encouraged) for you to write your own vows.

 

From the heart:

If it was up to us, we would say that writing your vows would have had to be the most heartfelt, rewarding and emotional part of your wedding planning journey. It brings you back down to reality to remember why you are actually marrying your person of choice, rather than worrying about your seating plan and if those last minute shoes you ordered are going to arrive on time.

There are many ways to write your wedding vows, but unless you are the next Tim Winton or Egdar Allan Poe, it may end up being a harder task than you originally had thought. With so many memories to reflect on, good times shared and reasons why you love your significant other, it can sometimes be hard to narrow it down and know exactly what to include and what to leave out.

To get to the point, we have put together a little recipe for vow writing success, that we hope will help you in crafting vows that will make your other half laugh, cry and confirm how much you love them.

Image: @raemarie_loveclub

Things to Remember:

1. Be thoughtful – your vows are meant to make your other half feel friggin’ amazing, so speak from the heart.

2. Be personal – use your fiancés name or nickname. Remember, you are talking to them.

3. Be considerate – though humour, and wit is encouraged in tasteful doses, hint at the funny stories or embarrassing moments rather than spelling them out. Your vows aren’t a script for roasting your other half. Remember point 1, make your partner feel friggin’ amazing!

4. The legalities – remember that there are some legal requirements for marriage vows, so be sure to chat to your celebrant, officiant, or whoever may be the one to make it legal, prior to writing to make sure you have everything you need to include. Also advise them of your wish to write your own custom vows, so they can plan your ceremony with this in mind.

5. Do it your way – If you are a singer, then sing! If you enjoy poetry, write a poem, do what is true to you.

6. Plan with your partner – make sure you are on the same page with your partner. Together, determine the length and tone of your vows, to help guide you both through the process.
For example: 
Length: 5-8 sentences
Tone: (clarify the degree of humour) – No sexy stories, no mention of our trip to the slopes, only one cheeky comment allowed – you get the picture.

Image: @youmeandtheseaphoto

The Layout:

Like all great love stories, your vows will have a beginning, a middle and an end.

 

The Beginning

An opening statement. Set the scene and give context to what you say next. Make reference to when you knew you first loved them, or how you came to realise you knew they were the one. 

Here are some sentence starters to get you thinking:

–   Remember when…

–   When we first met…

–   When I think about…

–   I love the way you…

–   It will never be (something) without (something)…

 

The Middle

The why – everyone knows you are lovestruck, but what is it that makes you love your fiancé the most? This is your chance to tell them exactly what and why you love them.

 Gather some descriptive words that best represent your fiancé, and tie them together with a few sentences on what makes them so amazing.

 Ask yourself:

–   What makes your fiancé unique / what are their best qualities?

–   What do you look forward to the most about seeing them each day? 

–   How is your fiancé different from anyone you have ever met?

 

 The End

The promises & your future together.

What do you promise?

–   If there were only 3 promises you could make to your fiancé for the rest of your lives, what would they be?

Reflect on your future together.

–   What are you looking forward to? This could be a long term goal you have made together like travelling the world or building a holiday house, or milestone such as starting a family.

–   Pssttt; this is where you could add your touch of cheeky by saying something like ‘I can’t wait to grow old, wrinkly and cranky together’ or ‘I hope our future daughter has your brains, and my sass’.

 

Recipe for success:

Mind map and write down absolutely everything you feel is important & you want to bring to the table. Reread over it and circle the no.1s.

Make a list of descriptive words that best describe your future spouse, these will come in handy when you are wanting to bulk up or link sentences.

Then add it to a table like this:

**Another tip: keep all of your sentences short & sweet. This will help with the overall flow and will also work in your favour when reading aloud.

 

Remember:
A draft is better than nothing at all! And finished is better than perfect. Once you have your points, you are pretty much there. Don’t over think it and don’t pick it apart. Your vows are meant to come from the heart.

Image: @jamessimmonsphotography

 

What’s next:

YOU DID IT, well done! Now it’s time to re-read and rehearse.

First of all, make sure you can read them. Make yourself two copies; a nice presented version which you can give to your other half after the ceremony, and a version you can read. Think black, san serif block letters printed on white paper, in a size you can see.

Practice speaking out loud, and in front of a mirror. Even if you are the best public speaker with nerves of steel, you never know what kind of emotions are going to hit you on your wedding day. So, practise speaking your vows with confidence and calm, remember to look up and pretend to practise making eye contact with your partner, imagine you are speaking directly to them.

And last but not least, try to memorise as much as you can. Your vows will be so much more heartfelt if you are looking into your partner’s eyes than reading off of a piece of paper.